1962 Singer Tire Fitment Guide

1962 Singer coverage centers on the Gazelle, and it uses two sizes: 155R15 and 560-15. Both fitments use a 15-inch rim diameter. The 155R15 radial appears on rims from 4.00 to 5.50 inches wide, while 560-15 bias-ply products appear on 4.5-inch rims and on a 4.50 to 5.50-inch range depending on the tire.

That means a 1962 Singer owner usually starts by confirming the wheel diameter and actual wheel width, then deciding whether the car should wear a radial or a bias-ply tire. If the car is already mounted on original-style 15-inch wheels, the next step is matching the tire to the wheel width and the kind of driving the Gazelle will see.

On a 1962 Singer, 560-15 is a classic numeric bias-ply size. The 5.60 portion refers to the nominal section width in inches, and the 15 identifies the wheel diameter in inches. It is an older sizing convention commonly found on British and American cars from the bias-ply era, and it does not read like a modern metric radial size.

For a Gazelle owner, that code points toward a traditional restoration-minded fitment rather than a modern radial conversion. It also helps explain why whitewall presentation matters more in this size, since 560-15 options include both narrow and wide whitewall styles. If originality and period stance are priorities, this is the size many owners consider first.

On a 1962 Singer, 155R15 is a metric radial size. The 155 identifies a nominal section width of 155 millimeters, the R indicates radial construction, and the 15 is the rim diameter in inches. In period Euro-metric usage without a stated aspect ratio, this style is commonly treated as an 80-series radial.

That makes 155R15 easy to distinguish from 560-15 even though both mount on 15-inch wheels. A Gazelle owner looking at 155R15 is typically choosing a radial-format tire and the different ride and handling character that comes with it. It is also the size where tube type, tubeless construction, and speed rating deserve a closer look before making a final choice.

For a 1962 Singer Gazelle, the choice between 155R15 and 560-15 is mainly a choice between radial and bias-ply construction, since both fitments use a 15-inch rim diameter. The 560-15 preserves the traditional bias-ply format associated with the period, while 155R15 moves into a radial layout offered by Firestone and Michelin.

Owners restoring a Gazelle for a more factory-era appearance usually gravitate toward 560-15, especially when whitewall presentation is part of the goal. Owners who expect more regular road use often consider 155R15 because it keeps the original wheel diameter while moving to a radial design. Confirm your wheel width before deciding, because both sizes have to match the actual rim as well as the intended use.

1962 Singer tires come in distinctly different sidewall presentations depending on size. The 155R15 radial choices are blackwall only, while 560-15 bias-ply options are available in both narrow whitewall and wide whitewall form. That gives the Gazelle owner a clear visual split between a more understated radial look and a more period-themed bias-ply appearance.

For a British compact sedan of the early 1960s, blackwall tires generally look the most restrained and market-correct, especially on cars presented in a more European style. Whitewalls can still suit a Gazelle if the restoration leans toward export-market flair or simply matches the owner’s preferred aesthetic. Sidewall style should be chosen with the car’s intended look in mind, not as an afterthought.

Four brands cover 1962 Singer fitments across the two available sizes. Firestone and Michelin make 155R15 radial options, while Firestone and US Royal cover 560-15 bias-ply applications. Within those offerings, Michelin appears in Michelin X, XAS, and XAS-FF forms, and Firestone spans both radial and classic bias-ply designs.

That brand spread gives a Gazelle owner a few different ways to approach the car. One path centers on a radial tire from Firestone or Michelin in blackwall form, while the other centers on a traditional 560-15 bias-ply from Firestone or US Royal with whitewall choices. The best brand for your Singer depends less on badge preference than on the size, construction, and appearance you want.

1962 Singer tire fitments share a 15-inch rim diameter, but rim width can vary by tire size and product. For 155R15, the supported rim width range runs from 4.00 to 5.50 inches. For 560-15, some tires call for a 4.5-inch rim, while others support a broader 4.50 to 5.50-inch span.

That is why a Gazelle owner should measure the actual wheel before settling on a tire, even when the wheel diameter is already known. A 15-inch wheel alone does not answer the full fitment question. Matching the tire’s approved rim width to the wheel helps preserve proper profile, sidewall shape, and overall fit on the car.

Inner tube requirements for 1962 Singer tires depend on the exact tire chosen. Within 155R15 radial products, tube type versus tubeless varies by product: Michelin X appears as TL, Michelin XAS appears as TT, and Michelin XAS-FF appears as TL. The Firestone 155R15 entry does not carry a tube marker in the size description, so the specific product marking should be checked before installation.

For a Gazelle owner, that means tube decisions should never be assumed from size alone. The same 155R15 fitment can involve different casing and mounting requirements depending on the tire series. If your car still has original wheels, it is especially wise to confirm wheel condition and the tire’s sidewall designation before mounting, since tube use and wheel design often go hand in hand on older cars.

A 1962 Singer Gazelle can often use both 155R15 and 560-15 on original-style wheels because both sizes share a 15-inch rim diameter. Wheel diameter compatibility is the easy part. The remaining check is wheel width, since 155R15 generally suits 4.00 to 5.50-inch rims and 560-15 products range from a single 4.5-inch fitment to a 4.50 to 5.50-inch range.

In practical terms, many original Gazelle wheels will fall into the overlap, but the wheel still needs to be measured and inspected rather than assumed correct by age alone. That is especially important if the car has changed hands, has replacement wheels, or has seen previous restoration work. Confirming the actual rim width avoids unnecessary mounting issues and helps narrow the tire choice quickly.

A 1962 Singer should be stored in a cool, dry, dark space away from direct sunlight, electric motors, welders, furnaces, and other ozone-producing equipment. Keep the tires clean, maintain inflation, and move the car periodically so the same section of tread does not carry the load for months at a time. Bias-ply tires such as 560-15 are generally more prone to flat-spotting during long static storage than radial 155R15 tires.

If the Gazelle will sit for an extended season, many collectors either roll the car occasionally or support it in a way that reduces prolonged tire loading. The goal is not only preserving tread, but also preserving sidewall condition and ride quality. A little attention during storage can make the first drive of the season much smoother and reduce avoidable aging damage.

Tires on a 1962 Singer usually age out before they wear out, especially on collector cars that see limited annual mileage. A good rule is to begin careful age and condition evaluation around five to seven years and to treat roughly ten years as the point where replacement deserves serious consideration regardless of remaining tread depth. The DOT date code, physical condition, and storage history matter more than mileage alone.

That matters on a Gazelle because a tire can still look serviceable from ten feet away while already being beyond its safest useful life. Sidewall checking, hardening rubber, and recurring pressure loss are all warning signs. If the car is used for tours or longer drives, age should be considered just as carefully as size and appearance.

Tires on a 1962 Singer should be inspected before every drive and more thoroughly before any extended outing. Look for sidewall cracking, cuts, bulges, irregular wear, low pressure, and signs that the tire is no longer holding air consistently. If the Gazelle is running any tube-type tire, the valve stem and tube-related hardware deserve extra attention as part of the routine check.

A quick walkaround catches far more problems on a low-use collector car than many owners expect. Cars that sit between drives can develop issues from age and storage rather than road wear, so inspection should be habitual rather than occasional. The spare should be checked too, since an old or underinflated spare often fails the moment it is finally needed.

A 1962 Singer Gazelle would have been associated with bias-ply construction when new, and the 560-15 fits that period-correct pattern for an early-1960s British saloon. The 155R15 radial is a valid wheel-diameter fitment for the car, but it reflects a later radial approach rather than the default factory-era construction most buyers would have seen at the time.

For restoration work, that means 560-15 is usually the starting point when originality matters most. If your goal is strict market-correct authenticity, especially for show judging, consult Singer and Rootes marque specialists to confirm whether any market-specific variation affected sidewall presentation. Construction type, more than brand name, is the first authenticity decision to get right.

Correct tire fitment matters on a 1962 Singer because judges and informed enthusiasts often notice size, construction type, and sidewall appearance almost immediately. A Gazelle shown for authenticity is more likely to align with period expectations in a 560-15 bias-ply than in a modern-style radial, and an obviously mismatched sidewall treatment can also stand out on an otherwise well-finished car.

That does not mean every event applies the same standard. Some local shows reward overall presentation, while marque events and concours judging can be much stricter about whether the tire looks appropriate to the car’s year and market. Before committing to a set, it helps to decide whether your Singer is being restored for judging, touring, or personal enjoyment.

For a 1962 Singer running 155R15, Michelin XAS and Michelin XAS-FF are both H-rated 82H radial choices on 15-inch rims with a 4.00 to 5.50-inch rim width range. The practical difference in the available specifications is tube configuration: Michelin XAS appears as TT, while Michelin XAS-FF appears as TL. Both carry the same general size family and weight figure.

That makes the decision less about dimensions and more about how the tire will be installed on the wheel you actually have. On an older Gazelle, wheel type and condition can influence whether a tube-type or tubeless product makes the most sense. Checking the tire’s sidewall designation and matching it to the wheel setup is more important here than choosing between two visually similar Michelin names.

1962 Singer tires can be suitable for highway driving when they are in good condition, correctly inflated, and used within their construction and speed-rating limits. Among 155R15 radial choices, T-rated products carry a 118 mph ceiling and H-rated products carry a 130 mph ceiling. The 560-15 bias-ply options do not show speed-letter markings here, so they should be treated with the caution appropriate to a vintage bias-ply touring tire rather than a modern high-speed tire.

On a Gazelle, the broader mechanical condition of the car matters just as much as the tire. Brake performance, steering condition, suspension wear, and alignment often become the limiting factors long before a healthy radial reaches its speed-rating ceiling. For normal road use, the important question is whether the whole car is prepared for sustained driving, not whether the tire can exceed the car’s natural pace.

Inflation pressure for a 1962 Singer should follow the vehicle’s factory recommendation first, then be checked against the tire’s own maximum-rated pressure and load marking. Within the available fitments, 155R15 Firestone F560 carries a 1045-pound load at 44 psi, while 560-15 bias-ply products carry 970 pounds at 32 psi. Those figures are maximum load-and-pressure pairings for the tire, not a blanket instruction to run every Gazelle at those exact pressures.

That distinction matters because collector cars often ride and handle best at pressures tailored to the car, not simply inflated to the sidewall maximum. If your owner’s manual or period tire placard survives, use that as the baseline and then confirm the chosen tire’s operating guidance from the manufacturer. Never transfer the pressure guidance from a 560-15 bias-ply to a 155R15 radial, or vice versa.

Before a longer drive in a 1962 Singer, inspect all four tires and the spare for cracking, cuts, bulges, unusual wear, and stable inflation. Check valve stems, especially if the car uses any tube-type tire, and make sure tread depth and general casing condition are consistent across the set. A longer outing is also the right time to verify wheel fastener tightness and confirm that the tires have not aged out even if they still look attractive.

The Gazelle is an older British car, so tire inspection should be part of a broader pre-trip routine rather than the only task on the list. Brakes, steering, cooling, and fluid leaks deserve attention alongside the tires. A few minutes in the garage before departure can prevent the kind of roadside interruption that turns a pleasant classic-car drive into a recovery job.